Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Canada

Birth

:

June 18, 1956 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Death

:

July 3, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

Oliver Schroer was a Canadian composer and violinist who was born on February 18, 1956, in Toronto, Ontario. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Schroer began playing the violin at the age of three and was soon recognized as a prodigy. He studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and later at the University of Toronto, where he earned a degree in music. Schroer's early career was focused on classical music, and he performed with various orchestras and chamber ensembles. However, he soon became interested in other genres of music, including folk, jazz, and world music. He began to experiment with different styles and techniques, incorporating them into his compositions and performances. One of Schroer's most significant influences was the music of the Inuit people of Canada's Arctic. He spent several years living and working with the Inuit, learning their traditional music and incorporating it into his own compositions. This experience had a profound impact on Schroer's music, and he became known for his unique blend of classical, folk, and world music. Schroer's first album, "Camino," was released in 1996 and featured his original compositions for solo violin. The album was well-received and established Schroer as a rising star in the Canadian music scene. He went on to release several more albums, including "Celtic Devotion" (1998), "Restless Joy" (2000), and "Hymns and Hers" (2002). In 2003, Schroer released what would become his most famous album, "Celtic Fiddle Festival." The album was a collaboration with Irish fiddler Kevin Burke and Scottish fiddler Johnny Cunningham and featured traditional Celtic music as well as original compositions by the three musicians. The album was a critical and commercial success and helped to establish Schroer as an international artist. Schroer continued to tour and record throughout the 2000s, collaborating with musicians from around the world and incorporating new styles and techniques into his music. He also became known for his innovative use of technology, using looping pedals and other effects to create complex and layered compositions. In 2008, Schroer was diagnosed with leukemia and began a grueling course of treatment. Despite his illness, he continued to perform and record, releasing several albums in the years that followed. He also became an advocate for cancer research and fundraising, using his music to raise awareness and funds for the cause. Schroer's final album, "Freedom Row," was released in 2012, just months before his death. The album was a tribute to the Underground Railroad, the network of secret routes and safe houses used by slaves to escape to freedom in the 19th century. The album featured original compositions by Schroer as well as traditional spirituals and folk songs. Oliver Schroer was a talented and innovative composer and violinist who pushed the boundaries of classical music and incorporated elements of folk, jazz, and world music into his compositions. His music was deeply influenced by his experiences living and working with the Inuit people of Canada's Arctic, and he became known for his unique blend of styles and techniques. Despite his untimely death, Schroer's music continues to inspire and influence musicians around the world.

More....